In a bizarre coda to what started Sunday afternoon at San Francisco's AT&T Park, a 42-year-old man from Northern California has apologized for throwing a banana in the direction of Baltimore Orioles outfielder Adam Jones after the Giants' 10-2 loss.
Alexander Poulides contacted the San Jose Mercury News on Monday. Jones tweeted about the incident yesterday afternoon:
I want to thank whatever slapdick threw that banana towards my direction in CF in the last inning. Way to show ur class u jackass.
Adam Jones
@SimplyAJ10
I want to thank whatever slapdick threw that banana towards my direction in CF in the last inning. Way to show ur class u jackass.
/ ViaIn other countries bananas are sometimes thrown at dark-skinned soccer players as a racist taunt. But Poulides told the newspaper by phone that he was merely disappointed with the Giants' loss when he grabbed a banana off a food cart and absent-mindedly threw it on to the stadium field — in Jones' direction.
As the Giants launched an investigation, Poulides reached The Mercury News via e-mail and subsequent phone call to claim credit for what he called "an indiscretion."
Above all, Poulides stressed repeatedly that the incident was not a racially motivated, as some had speculated. He was upset at the Giants, not Jones.
"I'm embarrassed and shocked by the outcome,'' the Northern California resident said. "In hindsight, I wish I didn't do it and I apologize. I'm very sorry."
The Giants said they were unable to immediately confirm that Poulides was the culprit and were continuing to investigate the incident. In a public statement earlier Monday, the team wrote:
"We would like to extend our sincerest apologies to Adam and the entire Orioles organization for this unfortunate incident,'' the team said in a statement released through the media. The inappropriate actions of this individual in no way reflect the values of our organization and our fans."
Jones has yet to comment on this latest development. The Orioles will next travel to San Francisco – outside of any World Series matchups – around 2022.